tihvavy  of t:he  theological  ^eminarjp 

PRINCETON   .   NEW  JERSEY 

PRESENTED  BY 

A.    G.    Cameron.  Ph.D. 


u 


THIS  MINISTRY. 

A  SERMON 

PREACHED  AT  THE  OPENING 
OF   THB 

SYNOD  OF  NEW  JEESEY, 

IN  THE   SECOND    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH    OF    ELIZABBTHTOWN, 

October  15th,  1850. 

y 

BY  SYMMES  C.  HENRY, 

MODERATOR     OF     THK     PRECEDING     TEAR. 


^7t? 


Princeton,  ^.  1.: 

PRINTED  BY  JOHN  T.  ROBINSON* 
1850. 


REVEREND 

FATHERS  AND  BRETHREN, 

OF  THE  SYNOD  OF  NEW  JERSEY, 

PERMIT  ME  TO  INSCRIBE  TO  YOU,  WITH 

SENTIMENTS  OF  FRATERNAL  ESTEEM, 

THIS    SERMON,    WHICH    WAS   PREACHED    IN    ACCORDANCE   WITH 

A    STANDING    USAGE    OF    OUR    BODY; 
HUMBLY    AND   FERVENTLY    PRAYING,  THAT  WE  MAY   HAVE 
GRACE   FOR   THE   FULLFILMENT   OF   OUR    MINIS- 
TRY;   AND   THAT   WE    MAY   ALWAYS    BE 
FOUND    STRIVING  TOGETHER  WITH 
ONE   MIND   FOR    THE   FAITH 
AND   FURTHERANCE   OF    THE   GOSPEL. 

S.  C.  HENRY. 
Cranbury,  October  22,  1850. 


SERMON. 


2  CoRINTHIAKS  iv.   1. 

THEREFORE    SEEING    WE    HAVE  THIS  MINISTRY,  AS    WE  HAVE 
RECEIVED    MERCY,    WE    FAINT    NOT. 

These  words  present  us  with  a  theme  from  which 
we  may  gather  instructions,  that  I  trust  will  be  ap- 
propriate and  profitable  for  this  occasion.  The  im- 
portance of  the  Christian  ministry,  to  the  temporal 
and  eternal  interests  of  man,  was  well  understood  by 
him  in  whom  were  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom 
and  knowledge ;  and  hence  in  the  exercise  of  a  com- 
passion as  boundless  as  his  wisdom,  it  pleased  him 
while  on  earth  to  provide  for  the  future  necessities  of 
his  church,  by  setting  apart  a  particular  order  of  men, 
whose  business  it  should  be  to  negociate  between  God 
and  their  fellow-sinners  on  the  momentous  concerns 
of  salvation.  Indeed,  the  wisdom  of  the  appointment 
is  so  manifest  to  reason,  that  it  may  well  be  supposed 
on  this,  as  well  as  scriptural  grounds,  that  such  a  class 
of  men  will  never  be  wanting  to  the  Christian  Church. 
Whatever  therefore,  pertains  to  the  ministry — to  an 
ofiice  of  perpetual  and  Divine  appointment,  must  be 
interesting,  not  only  to  those  who  hold  it,  but  to  the 
far  greater  class  of  those  whom  it  was  designed  to 
benefit.  Nothing  that  regards  the  souls  of  men,  can 
fail  to  interest  alike  both  ministers  and  people. 

From  these  words,  I  shall  take  occasion  to  say  a 


few  things  of  the  General  Nature  and  Validity  of  this 
Ministry — its  Difficulties- — and  its  Encouragements. 

1.    The  General  Nature  and  Validity  of  this  Ministry . 

As  the  Apostles  were  specially  chosen  to  testify  the 
resurrection  of  Christ  as  eye-witnesses ;  to  reveal  his 
will  infallibly ;  and  to  confirm  it  by  miraculous  pow- 
ers, it  seems  quite  obvious,  that  their  office  was  an  ex- 
traordinary one,  and  therefore,  that  it  expired  at  their 
death.  Whatever  then,  may  be  «aid  as  to  the  success- 
orshijx  of  such  an  office,  we  are  free  to  say,  that  we 
acknowledge  no  claims  to  the  distinction,  as  they  have 
been  put  forth  by  a  certain  class  of  modern  dignitaries. 
But  though  the  design  of  the  Apostolic  commission 
has  been  accomplished,  and  the  office  from  the  very 
nature  of  the  case  has  expired,  the  Great  Head  of  the 
Church  among  his  ascension  gifts  "  gave  pastors  and 
tmclwrs  for  the  work  of  the  ministry."  Here,  then, 
is  the  office  designated  in  the  text.  It  is  an  office  in- 
stituted by  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  a  standing  ordinance, 
and  the  highest  in  grade,  since  the  Apostolic  age,  in 
the  Christian  Church. 

The  appointment  of  the  Christian  ministry  is  one 
of  the  very  greatest  blessings  to  mankind.  Ever  since 
the  first  revelation  to  this  lost  world,  God  has  had 
some  to  make  known  his  will,  and  to  urge  its  high 
and  holy  claims  to  regard.  This  is  a  point  of  too 
much  consequence,  not  to  command  attention.  It 
was  so  in  the  Patriarchal  ages,  both  before  and  after 
the  flood,  and  perhaps  to  an  extent,  and  with  a  clear- 
ness far  beyond  what  is  generally  supposed.  It  was 
so  pre-eminently  under  the  Jewish  dispensation,  when, 
besides  Prophets,  who   were  raised    up   to   perform 


special  services,  om  whole  Tribe,  composing  if  not  the 
twelfth,  still  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  people, 
was  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  sanctuary,  which  in- 
cluded the  office  of  religious  instruction.  AVhen  the 
blessed  Redeemer  appeared  on  earth,  it  was  in  the 
character  of  a  preacher  of  divine  truth.  Even  then, 
he  sent  his  disciples  forth,  and  clothed  them  with  au- 
thority to  dispense  the  word  of  life.  And  after  he 
arose  from  the  dead  he  enlarged  the  ministerial  com- 
mission, and  commanded  that  the  gospel  should  be 
preached  to  everj^  creature  ;  adding,  "  Lo  I  am  with 
you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world  :"  a  prom- 
ise which  both  puts  a  divine  seal  and  sanction  upon 
the  ministry ;  and  also  declares  its  supreme  impor- 
tance in  bringing  about  the  salvation  of  our  ruined 
race. 

The  simple  fact  therefore,  that  the  ministry  is  an 
ordinance  of  perpehial  appointment  in  the  church,  is 
no  small  proof  of  its  high  instrumentality  in  the  work 
of  reclaiming  a  lost  world.  But  when  we  read  that 
it  was  expressly  designed  "  to  turn  men  from  dark- 
ness to  light  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God ; 
that  it  is  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching  that  it  pleases 
God  to  save  them  that  believe,  we  cannot  hesitate  to 
give  it  the  foremost  place  among  the  instrumentalities 
selected  and  employed  by  divine  wisdom  in  bringing 
men  to  a  saving  acquaintance  with  the  truth.  To 
expect  the  gospel  to  spread  and  to  take  effect — to  have 
free  course  and  to  be  glorified,  in  becoming  the  power 
of  God  and  the  wisdom  of  God  upon  the  souls  of  men, 
without  the  agency  of  those  whom  Christ  has  called 
to  minister  in  his  name,  is  not  only  irrational,  but  a 
most  unhallowed  presumption.     And  while  we  would 


8 

not  limit  the  Holy  One  of  Israel ;  while  it  is  not  to  be 
denied  that  it  would  be  easy  for  him  to  bring  men  to 
repentance  and  a  holy  life,  apart  from  the  ministry 
of  the  word,  it  is  sufficient  for  us  to  know,  that  this 
is  comparatively  very  infrequent,  and  therefore,  in 
ordinary  cases  not  to  be  looked  for  ;  and  that  it  is  the 
institution  of  his  own  sovereign  wisdom,  that  he  hon- 
ours for  this  purpose  pre-eminently  and  almost  ex- 
clusively. 

The  great  design  contemplattfd  in  the  Christian 
ministry,  is  what  the  apostle  declared  in  his  own  case 
to  be  "  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God."  It  is 
a  ministry  of  sovereign  love,  and  boundless  compassion 
on  the  part  of  an  offended  God,  in  behalf  of  his  offend- 
ing and  rebellious  subjects.  It  regards  man  as  fallen 
and  helpless,  and  condemned.  It  supposes  his  condi- 
tion wretched,  but  not  hopeless.  It  looks  upon  him 
every  where,  at  all  times,  and  under  all  circumstances, 
as  a  sinner  against  God,  "dead  in  trespasses  and  sins." 
If  the  minister  of  Jesus  forget  or  overlook  this  great 
Bible  truth,  he  mistakes  his  errand  and  all  his  labour 
and  preaching  will  be  ineffectual.  Here  then,  is  the 
key  to  all  useful  and  availing  effort  on  the  part  of  the 
gospel  ministry.  It  comes  with  the  proclamations  of 
pardon  and  peace — with  the  offers  of  a  full  and  a  free 
salvation  to  guilty  and  perishing  sinners. 

It  is  quite  evident  that  such  a  ministry,  is  not  the 
Ministry  of  the  Law.  The  law  has  no  voice  but  that 
of  death  and  condemnation  to  the  guilty  sinner.  It 
knows  no  mercy,  and  never  speaks  of  pardon.  It 
demands  obedience,  but  it  says,  "  cursed  is  every  one 
that  continueth  not  in  all  things,  written  in  the  book 
of  the  Law,  to  do  them."     It  never  did,  and  never 


9 

can  make  the  coiner  thereunto,  perfect — its  command- 
ment is  so  exceeding  broad,  that  it  multiplies  and  ag- 
gravates transgression.  The  consciousness  of  its  vio- 
lation to  a  sinner,  without  the  hope  of  mercy  will  only 
terrify  him  with  the  fear  of  punishment,  and  jDlunge 
him  into  a  darker  and  a  deeper  despair.  A  principle 
not  known  to  the  law,  and  unknown  to  reason,  must 
be  applied  to  meet  the  exigency  of  man's  condition. 
A  message  never  thought  of  by  man,  must  be  brought 
— a  message  suited  to  him  as  a  miserable  sinner — a 
message  of  mercy  from  his  oftended  Father  in  heaven 
— which  can  take  away  the  guilt  of  sin  from  his  con- 
science and  subdue  the  power  of  sin  in  his  heart. 
Such  is  the  message  which  is  the  Theme,  and  the 
Burden  of  "  this  ministry."  It  proclaims  a  Saviour — 
such  a  Saviour  as  man  wants.  It  is  mercy  meeting 
misery,  and  announcing  pardon  and  peace.  It  says, 
God  is  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world  to  himself,  and 
that  "  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  from  all 
sin."  Let  this  message  be  effectually  delivered  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  the  soul,  and  however  deep  the  stains 
of  sin  upon  it,  the  work  of  renovation  and  purity  will 
be  achieved. 

We  should ,  not  fail  to  notice  that  this  mimstry,  of 
which  the  text  speaks,  is  elsewhere  very  emphatically 
described  as  "haviur/  been  recekeriy  This  is  indeed  a 
solemn  and  a  weighty  consideration.  Every  true, 
faithful  minister  of  the  gospel,  may  say  with  the 
Apostle  that  he  has  "  received  his  ministry  of  the 
Lord  Jesus."  "  No  man  taketh  this  honour  to  himself, 
but  he  that  is  called  of  God  as  was  Aaron."  It  is  the 
prerogative  of  God  both  to  call  and  qualify  a  man  to 
be  a  successful  preacher  of  his  word.     All  men  are  not 


10 

fhv^s  called.  Among  the  thousands  who  profess  to  be 
the  followers  of  Christ,  very  few  are  employed  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  The  question,  as  to  what  con- 
stitutes a  call  to  enter  the  sacred  office,  may  we  think, 
be  easily  answered  on  scriptural  grounds.  It  will  at 
once  be  conceded,  that  no  unconverted  man  is  thus 
called.  There  must  be  the  power,  as  well  as  the 
form  of  godliness,  associated  with  this  trust.  True 
piety  is  essential  in  all  who  sustain  the  character  of 
Christ's  ministers.  But  not  onlj-*  must  a  man  be  a 
fJIiristian,  who  aspires  to  the  sacred  office — there  are 
several  other  qualifications,  which  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church  has  required,  in  those  who  go  forth  to 
minister  in  his  name.  These  are  recorded  in  detail 
in  the  epistles  to  Timothy  and  Titus.  There  we  find 
that  aptness  to  teach — the  ability  to  rightly  divide 
the  word  of  truth  ;  soundness  in  the  faith,  and  a  good 
report  of  them  that  are  without — by  which,  we  may 
understand- — an  unblemished  reputation,  guarded  and 
graced  by  Christian  prudence — are  so  many  requi- 
sites, which  along  with  piety,  go  to  make  up  that 
standard  of  qualification  for  this  holy  and  responsible 
office,  whicli  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  instituted  it. 
has  seen  fit  to  prescribe.  The  sum  of  all  is,  that  a 
minister  must  not  only  be  a  good  man,  but  that  he 
must  have  a  good  degree  of  knowledge  and  practical 
wisdom ;  that  he  must  be  competent  to,  and  faithful 
in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office^  if  he  would 
make  full  proof  of  his  ministry,  and  show  himself  a 
workman,  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed. 

But  neither  is  every  good  man  and  every  man 
whose  endowments  are  sufficient,  allowed  for  these 
reasons  to  suppose  that  he  has  a  call  or  a  warrant  to 


11 

preach  the  gospel.  Before  a  man  can  be  satisfied 
that  he  is  so  called,  his  heart  must  be  excited  and 
inclined  to  this  office  by  holy  considerations.  He 
must  be  willing  and  desirous  to  undertake  it,  not 
from  any  selfish,  or  worldly  motive,  but  from  ihe 
longing  and  irrepressible  desire  to  glorify  God,  in  flic 
conversion  and  salvation  of  soids. 

In  addition  to  the  prerequisites  already  alluded  to, 
a  man  before  he  can  be  entitled  to  perform  the  duties 
of  this  ministry,  must  he  didy  authorized  for  the  high 
itnd  sacred  service,  for  no  man  has  a  right  to  usurp  the 
functions  of  this  holy  office.  After  passing  through 
the  ordeal,  which  the  particular  branch  of  the  church 
with  which  he  is  connected  has  established,  to  deter- 
mine the  qualifications  of  its  candidates  for  the  holy 
ministry,  he  must  be  inducted  into  it,  in  a  regular  and 
formal  manner.  Thus  he  becomes  officially  invested, 
as  well  as  spiritually  and  scientifically  furnished.  He 
must  be  clothed  with  the  garments  of  the  priesthood, 
before  he  can  wait  at  the  altar. 

The  scriptural  mode  of  doing  this,  is  by  the  impo-'-i- 
tion  of  hands,  and  in  our  own  beloved  church,  ''  by 
the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Presbytery."  We 
think  it  may  fairly  be  presumed,  that  Jesus  Christ 
appointed  some  form  of  introduction  to  office  in  his 
visible  church,  and  as  this  was  the  only  mode 
which  obtained  in  apostolic  times,  the  conclusion  is 
^^ery  natural,  that  it  received  the  sanction  of  the 
Apostles,  and  was  observed  by  them,  because  they 
received  it  from  their  Divine  Lord  and  Head,  and 
were  themselves  thus  formally  consecrated  to  their 
work.  It  is  not  pretended  that  any  particular  or 
mysterious  endowment  is  communicated  on  the  one 


12 

hand,  or  received  on  the  other,  by  the  observance 
of  this  usage,  but  it  is  in  accordance  with  Apostolic 
direction,  and  seems  highly  expedient  and  proper, 
inasmuch,  as  it  serves  as  an  impressive  sign,  to  con- 
vej''  an  idea  of  ministerial  authority  so  conferred.  In 
reply  to  those  who  here  differ  from  us,  and  on  this 
ground  make  Exclusive  Pretensions  to  the  only  Apos- 
tolic and  Divinely  Constituted  Ministry,  we  would 
barely  remark,  that  Timothy,  the  very  model  of  a 
bishop  in  their  estimation,  was  so  ordained,  "  ivith  the 
laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Presbytery  J'  It  is  capa- 
ble of  the  clearest  proof,  and  has  often  been  proved, 
over  and  over  again,  that  these  Presbyters  were  the 
Pastors  of  particular  churches,  exercising  a  parity  of 
office,  and  claiming  no  precedence  above  their 
brethren,  thai  the  very  same  Persons  are  sometimes 
called  Bi-^hops  or  Overseers^  as  well  as  Elders,  and 
Pastors  and  Teachers,  names,  merely  expressive  of 
diversified,  duties,  while  the  Office  in  each  case,  is 
identical.  Most  conscientiously,  then,  do  we  repudiate 
the  doctrine  of  i^relaticcd  ordination  when  it  assumes 
to  be  the  only  valid  ordination  to  this  ministrj',  as  an 
unscriptural  and  an  unwarrantable  assumption.  No ; 
we  are  fully  persuaded  in  our  own  minds,  that  we 
are  acting  in  accordance  with  the  injunction  of  the 
Master,  in  Presbyter icdly  setting  apart  by  prayer  and 
the  im.positiwi  of  hands,  men  baptized  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  to  the  office  of  the  ministry.  Every  minister, 
thus  ordained,  may  magnify  his  office,  and  feel  that 
he  receives  it  in  a  succession,  quite  as  Apostolic  as 
though  conferred  by  Pope  or  Diocesan  Bishop.  Let 
him  exercise  it  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of 
Jesus  Christ,  from  whom    he  received  it,   and  the 


13 

Great  Head  of  the  church  will  in  his  case,  as  he  has 
done  for  ages,  affix  the  signet  of  his  approbation  to 
his  labours. 

II.  Having  spoken  of  the  general  nature  and 
validity  of  tills  ministry  ; — Let  us  now,  in  the  Second 
Place,  advert  to  thdA^  j^f^'^ticular  feature  of  the  office,  to 
which  the  text  points  in  no  dubious  terms.  I  mean 
the  Difficulties  attending  the  discharge  of  its-  various 
functions.  "  Seeing  we  have  this  ministry,  as 
we  have  received  mercy,  we  faint  nof — obviously 
intimating,  that  were  it  not,  for  the  Mercy  afforded, 
those  who  are  called  to  exercise  it,  would  faint,  and 
feel  overcome  and  overburdened  by  its  duties,  its  trials 
and  solemn  responsibilities. 

It  would  seem  at  first  sight,  quite  natural  to  sup- 
pose, that  no  very  great  difficulties  would  grow  out 
of  the  faithful  performance  of  ministerial  duties.  And 
such  a  notion  we  are  aware,  is  in  accordance  with  the 
sentiments  perhaps,  of  a  majority  of  the  people  in  our 
churches.  They  imagine  that  the  office,  when  com- 
pared with  other  pursuits,  is,  cm  easy  one ;  and  it  is 
undoubtedly  true,  that  it  may  be  divested  of  much 
that  is  calculated  to  depress  and  discourage  in  the 
case  of  an  unfaithful  and  time-serving  incumbent. 
But  all  the  representations  of  scripture  in  regard  to 
the  Christian  ministry,  lead  us  to  the  conclusion,  that 
in  the  fulfilment  of  its  high  and  holy  aims,  there  are 
obstacles  to  be  met  and  to  be  overcome.  Why  on 
any  other  ground  have  we  so  many  directions  and 
encouragements  to  be  faithful?  Why  so  many 
prayers  for  those  invested  with  it,  that  they  might 
be  strengthened  for  the  work  ?  Why  did  the  Chief 
of  the  Apostles,  in  allusion  to  its  important,  and  soul- 


14 

pressing  behests,  ask  in  anxious  solicitude — "  Who  is 
sufficient  for  these  things  ?"  Nay,  why,  if  this  view 
of  the  office,  be  not  the  correct  one,  did  the  blessed 
Redeemer  judge  it  expedient  to  cheer  his  ministers, 
and  to  comfort  them  by  the  promise  of  his  sustaining 
presence  alway — even  to  the  end  of  the  world  ? 

What  then,  are  some  of  the  Difficulties,  connected 
with  this  ministry,  with  which  we  are  charged — that 
weigh  at  times  almost  with  a  fainting  impression  on 
our  minds?  We  reply,  they  are  such  as  concern 
both,  our  Public  and  Private  duties.  Such  as  arise, 
from  the  very  nature  of  the  ivork  itself ;  the  imperfect 
inanner  in  which  it  is  performed ;  and  the  solemn  re- 
sponsibility it  involves. 

There  is  the  Work  itself  It  consists  principally,  in 
pteaching  the  truth,  and  in  so  preaching  it,  as  to 
realize  the  great  design  of  the  gospel, — "  to  save  them 
that  believe."  The  gospel,  is  the  great  remedy  sup- 
plied by  God,  to  heal  the  souls  of  men,  diseased  with 
the  malady  of  sin  ;  and  the  dispensing  of  this  remedy 
is  intrusted  to  his  ministers.  The  treasure  of  its 
grace  and  mercy  is  committed  to  earthen  vessels,  and 
they  are  required  "  to  declare  the  whole  counsel  of 
God  ;"  to  present  all  the  truths  of  the  Bible  in  their 
connection,  and  their  due  proportion.  This  then,  is 
an  arduous  business.  To  be  a  Steward  of  divine 
mysteries,  a  Shepherd  of  the  flock,  to  feed  them  with 
knowledge  and  spiritual  understanding,  is  indeed  no 
easy  task.  A  minister  of  the  gospel  does  not  fulfil 
the  end  of  his  ministry,  unless  he  endeavours,  under 
divine  grace,  to  bring  every  individual  in  his  congre- 
gation to  devote  himself  to  the  service  of  the  redeem- 
ing Saviour.     But  in  doing  this,  he  has  to  address 


15 

himself  to  souls  alienated  from  the  life  of  God,  with 
little  sense  of  the  value  of  his  favour,  and  no  delight 
in  communing  with  him — souls  that  are   indisposed 
to  these  enjoyments — that  are  carnally  minded  and 
destitute    of  that  spiritual  taste   and   apprehension, 
which  is  requisite  for  the   due  appreciation  of  these 
blessings ;  and  like  Ezekiel,  he  has   to  prophecy  to 
dry  bones  in  the  valley  of  vision,  which  will  never 
live,  but  under  the  visitation  of  that  breath,  which 
bloweth  were  it  listeth. — It  is  not  an  easy  thing  under 
any  circumstances   to  obtain   an  influence  over  the 
mind  of  another  ;  but  to  obtain  such  an  influence  as 
to  persuade  it,  contrary  to  its  natural  bias — is  a  work 
of  the  highest  difficulty.     Yet  such  is  the  work  of  a 
minister  of  the   New  Testament.     He  has  to  arrest 
the  sinner  in  his  course  of  sin ;  to  shake   down  the 
strong  holds  of  his  security,  and  to  carry  the  convic- 
tion to  his  heart,  that  he  must  be  born  again,  before 
he  can  enter  the  kingdom  of  God.     Nor  does  he  find 
it  less  arduous  to  bring  the  formalist  and  the  self- 
righteous    to    see    and    to    acknoAvledge   the    utter 
deficiency  of  all   that  in  which  they  trust.     In  all 
these  cases  the  preacher  of  God's  truth  has  to  bring 
an  unpleasant  message  ;  to  persuade  to  what  is  disa- 
greeable; and  to  eflect  not  only  an  outward  reforma- 
tion of  conduct,  but  to  work  a  radical  change  of  views 
and  character.      Did  men   naturally  love  God  and 
holiness,  this  office  would  be  comparatively  easy.  But 
how  hard  it  is,  to   speak  and  to  reason   against  the 
inclinations, — the  prejudices, — the  very  nature  of  the 
human  mind.     Before  men  are  made  willing  to  bow 
to  the  claims  of  the  gospel,  how  many  difficulties  must 
be    overcome — what    tastes    implanted   and   habits 


16 

formed — what  an  entire  change  of  the  moral  feelings 
must  be  effected.  It  surely  can  be  no  easy  matter  to 
prevail  on  them  to  pluck  out  a  right  eye,  to  cut  off  a 
right  hand,  and  to  induce  them  to  exchange  a  world, 
which  is  saen  and  tasted  and  felt,  for  a  world  which 
is  unseen,  and  all  the  enjoyments  of  which,  are  at 
variance  with  their  prevailing  desires.  This  indis- 
position to  the  things  of  God,  so  radical  and  incura- 
ble by  human  power,  as  it  has  always  been  a  source 
of  discouragement  to  the  faithful  minister,  so  it  would 
prove  an  invincible  obstacle  to  success,  did  that,  suc- 
cess depend  on  the  might  and  the  wisdom  of  man. 

It  has  never  been  found  an  easy  matter  in  dis- 
charging the  duty  of  declaring  the  whole  counsel  of 
God,  to  keep  up  the  continued  interest  of  the  great 
mass  of  those,  who  attend  the  ministrations  of  the 
sanctuary.  The  truths  declared  from  the  pulpit  are 
those  which  they  have  been  accustomed  to  hear  from 
their  childhood,  and  are  divested  of  that  charm  of 
novelty,  which  attaches  to  a  neiv  discoi^eri/  of  science. 
The  preacher  of  the  gospel  is  restricted  to  the  inspired 
record,  and  is  not  allowed  to  give  it  the  variety  of 
human  invention.  What  is  new,  must  on  that  very 
account  be  fjilse  and  dangerous.  All  that  can  be 
delivered  by  the  ablest  men,  has  been  revealed.  Yet 
many  who  frequent  our  churches,  seem  anxious  to 
hear  something  which  was  never  heard  before,  and  if 
this  desire  of  novelty  is  not  gratified,  the  message  of 
mercy  is  slighted  and  undervalued.  Such  persons 
fail  to  remember,  that  it  is  the  practical  application 
of  old  and  well  known  truths,  which  is  chiefly  wanted, 
and  from  which  the  attention  of  men  should  not  be 


17 

diverted  bj  speculations    and  theories,  however  in- 
genious or  captivating. 

And  here  we  would  also  observe,  that  no   small 
difficulty,  arising  from  the  discharge  of  this  ministry, 
is  to  know  how,  to  apportion  divine  truth,  to  the  diver- 
sified circumstances  of  our  hearers.     Though  as  we 
have  said,  the  truths  and  doctrines  of  the  Bible  are 
the  same,  and  admit  of  no  abridgment  and  addition, 
yet  the  character,  and  the  situation  of  those  to  whom 
that  truth  is  addressed  are  very  various.     The  same 
doctrine,  and  form  of  elucidation,  and  mode  of  address, 
will  not  do  for  all  classes  and  ages  ;  for  the  different  de- 
grees of  mental  culture  among  our  hearers ;  their  differ- 
ent temperaments,  and  diversified  experiences.     It  is 
not  unfrequently,  therefore,  the  occasion  of  anxious  sus- 
pense in  the  mind  of  a  good  Steward  of  the  mysteries 
of  God,  to  know  how  rightly  to  divide  the  word  of 
truth,  so  as  to  give  to  every  one  his  portion  in  due 
season.     Such  was  the   prerogative   of  the   Blessed 
Master.     To  him  was  given  the  tongue  of  the  learned. 
and  he  knew  how  to  speak  a  word  in  season  to  him 
who  is  weary.    But  his  servants  often  fail  here.     They 
often  know  not  what  will  exactly  suit  those  who  wait 
on  their  ministry  ;  nor  how  at  all  times  to  bring  forth 
things,  new  and  old,  from  the  inexhaustible  treasury 
of  truth,  so  as  to  administer  the  j)roper  degree  of  sup- 
port and  consolation,  and  encouragement,  and  correc- 
tion, and  reproof,  and  warning,  which  particular  cases 
require. 

But  after  all, — the  perplexities  that  embarrass  the 
faithful  minister  in  the  prosecution  of  his  more  public 
exercises,  are  not  to  be  compared  to  those  which  assail 
and  oppress  his  spirit  when  lie  looks  within.     When  he 


18 

undertakes  an  investigation  of  those  motives  and 
principles — those  aims  and  ends,  by  which  he  should 
alone  and  always  be  actuated  in  his  high  and  holy 
work.  When  he  turns  his  eye  upon  the  workings  of 
his  own  heart, — there,  alas !  he  meets  with  little  that 
does  not  liumble  and  discourage  him  ;  and  he  is  made 
painfully  sensible,  of  that  lack  of  personal  religion, 
without  which,  though  he  might  speak  with  an  an- 
gel's tongue,  he  would  be  but  "  as  sounding  brass  and 
a  tinkling  cymbal."  If  he  asks  hi^nself,  where  is  the 
ardent  love  for  Christ — the  disinterested  zeal  for  the 
promotion  of  his  cause — the  compassion  for  perishing 
sinners — the  delight  in  going  about  like  his  divine  Mas- 
ter, in  doing  good  to  the  bodies  and  the  souls  of  men  ? 
Where  the  purity  of  motive — the  meekness,  the  hu- 
mility— the  heavenly-mindedness — the  fervent  piety 
which  should  characterize  the  faithful  pastor,  and  the 
example  of  the  tlock  ? — these  questions  impress  his 
mind  with  such  a  sense  of  his  many  imperfections  and 
failures,  that  he  is  at  times  almost  ready  to  despond, 
and  he  fears,  lest  after  preaching  to  others,  he  himself 
should  be  "  a  cast  away."  It  is  true,  indeed,  that  in 
some  respects  the  ministerial  office  may  be  conducive 
to  the  cultivation  of  personal  piety.  It  secures  a  man 
from  those  worldly  influences  arising  from  the  pursuit 
of  gain,  that  greatly  estrange  our  mind  from  our  high- 
er and  eternal  interests.  It  necessarily  occupies  the 
mind  with  the  contemplation  of  great  and  good  and 
solemn  subjects,  and  so  affords  leisure  and  opportunL 
ty  to  attend  to  the  concerns  of  a  future  existence, 
which  the  cares  and  the  business  of  time  greatly  pre- 
clude. But  there  is  danger  that  it  degenerate  into  a 
mere  professional  pursuit.    There  is  danger  lest  we  come 


19 

eventually  to   pray  without  feeling,  and   to   preach 
without  emotion — without  the  earnest  desire  of  saving 
souls.     To  be  perpetually  engaged  in  going  through 
the  forms  of  religion,  uttering  its  language  and  mani- 
festing its  spirit,  while  our  hearts  are  but  little  im- 
pressed with  the  importance   and  sacredness  of  our 
duties — tends  directly  to  formalize  and  secularize  our 
entire  religious  character.     The  very  thought,    that 
Avhile  we  are  calling  others  into  the  kingdom,  we  may 
never  enter  ourselves — that  while  we  are  made  the 
keepers  of  the  vineyard  of  our  mother's  children,  our 
own  vineyard  we  have  not  kept,  and  that  the  work 
of  godliness  is  far  from  advancing  in  our  own  hearts, 
is  of  itself  a  most  painful  and  depressing  reflection. 
And  while  such  considerations  as  these  lay  heavy  on 
the   mind,  it   not    unfrequently   hajDpens,    that   the 
difficulties  of  our   position    are    aggravated   by   the 
abridgement  of  time,  and  the  hurry  and  press  of  of- 
ficial engagements.     New  undertakings,  and  new  and 
unexpected  calls  upon  our  time  and  strength,  spring 
up  from  day  to  day — and,  along  with  an  advanced 
and  improving  order  of  things  by  which  we  become 
surrounded— higher  expectations,  and  higher  demands. 
And  while  these  cases  of  emergency  multiply,  it  often 
happens  that  but  little  opportunity  to  prepare  for 
them  is  enjoyed ;  and  the  sources  of  weariness,  and 
perplexity  increase  and  dishearten  us. 

I  cannot  pass  from  the  consideration  of  the  various 
causes,  which  at  times  produce  impressions  of  dis- 
couragement and  trembling  on  our  hearts,  without 
adverting  to  that  sense  of  solemn  res^ionsihUity,  which 
every  minister  should  keep  alive  in  his  soul ;  never 
forgetting  that  he  watches  for  souls,  as  one  that  must 


20 

give  account.  How  gTeat  the  guilt  and  how  awful 
the  doom  of  the  unfaithful  minister.  To  every  min- 
ister, God  says  with  equal  truth  and  equal  emphasis, 
as  he  said  to  the  prophet,  "  Son  of  man,  I  have  made 
thee  a  watchman,  unto  the  House  of  Israel,  therefore 
hear  the  word  at  my  mouth,  and  give  them  warning 
from  me.  When  I  say  unto  the  wicked,  thou  shalt 
surely  die ;  and  thou  givest  him  not  warning,  nor 
speakest  to  warn  the  wicked  from  his  wicked  way  to 
save  his  life,  the  same  wicked  man* shall  die  in  his  in- 
iquity, but  his  blood,  will  I  require  at  tliine  hand." 
And  is  it  so,  my  Brethren,  that  when  we  come  to 
stand  at  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  we  must  answer 
not  only  for  our  own  souls,  but  for  the  souls  committed 
to  our  charge,  if  we  warn  them  not ;  then,  never  was 
there  a  work  undertaken  by  mortals  so  solemn,  or 
connected  with  such  amazing  consequences.  Surely, 
there  are  times  when  we  go  in  and  out  before  the 
people  of  our  respective  charges,  that  we  can  enter 
into  the  spirit  of  the  Apostle's  declaration  to  the  Cor- 
inthian church,  when  under  a  conscious  burden  of 
personal  short-coming  and  responsibility,  he  assured 
them,  that  while  he  was  with  them,  as  a  minister  of 
Christ,  it  was,  "  in  weakness,  and  in  fear,  and  in  much 
trembling."  Often  when  we  go  forward,  in  imagina- 
tion, with  our  dying  congregations  to  that  day,  and 
that  tribunal,  which  will  try  every  man's  work — when 
we  think  what  a  hold  our  preaching  and  our  example 
take  on  eternity — what  issues  are  at  stake  beyond 
the  grave — -we  cannot,  sui^ely,  we  cannot,  forbear  ex.. 
claiming, — is  this  work  assigned  to  frail,  imperfect, 
Mnful  man !     Are  earthen  vessels  the  depositories  of 


21 

such  a  treasure !  Blessed  Jesus,  ''  Who  is  sufficient 
for  these  things  ?" 

III.  Having  glanced  at  some  of  the  difficulties  atr 
tendant  upon  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
our  high  and  holy  office,  let  us  now  turn  our  minds 
to  a  brief  survey  of  those  Encouragements  and  Siij^port^ 
which  are  promised,  and  to  a  good  extent  have  been 
experienced  by  thousands  in  the  exercise  of  tliis  min- 
istry. 

The  implication  which  our  text  contains  in  regard 
to  the  arduous  duties  and  discouragements  of  the 
ministerial  office  is  too  plain  to  be  called  in  ques- 
tion, and  equally  clear  is  the  assumption,  which  it 
fwrnishes,  that  these  difficulties  and  discouragements 
are  overbalanced  by  the  most  ample  supplies  of  grace 
and  strength.  "  We  faint  not,  because,  im  have  re- 
ceived mercy r  And  so  the  Apostle,  in  another  place, 
declares  that  he  "  obtained  mercy  of  the  Lord  to  be 
faithful."  Encouragement  and  support  are  needed — 
and  blessed  be  God,  it  is  in  accordance  with  the  re- 
corded experience  of  his  ministers,  in  all  ages  of  the 
church,  that  they  have  not  been  withheld.  While 
men  of  other  pursuits,  and  other  professions  are  often 
borne  down  to  entire  and  hopeless  despondency,  so 
that  they  have  been  compelled  to  abandon  their  most 
cherished  aims — the  encouragements  affi3rded  the 
christian  minister,  have  been  strong  enough  to  sustain 
him  in  everj^  struggle,  and  to  bear  him  above  all  op- 
posing and  disheartening  influences.  His  encourage- 
ment comes  from  above — it  comes  from  God — from 
his  mercy,  promised — and  because  he  is  faithful,  wlio 
has   promised.     Numerous   and  diversified  then,    as 


22 

may  be  the   difficulties  of  this   ministry,  we   too,  may 
exultingly  exclaim,  "  Our  Sufficiency  is  of  God." 

The  work  of  the  ministry  puts  on  a  cheering  aspect 
to  our  minds,  when  we  call  to  our  remembrance,  that 
God  has  Iwnowed  it  above  all  other  employments.  It  is 
by  this  instrumentality  especially,  that  it  pleases  him 
to  save  those  that  believe,  and  to  extend  the  interests 
of  his  kingdom  in  the  world.  Every  faithful  minister 
is  associated  with  the  holy  angels,  in  carrying  forward 
the  purposes  of  redeeming  grace  fowards  their  final 
and  triumphant  accomplishment.  He  is  engaged  in 
promoting  a  cause  that  secures  the  highest  glory  to 
God,  and  the  greatest  happiness  to  our  wretched  race- 
Nay,  he  is  honoured,  by  being  a  co-worker  with  God. 
and  as  an  Ambassador  of  Christ,  he  is  employed  in 
furthering  the  great  designs  of  his  redeeming  mercy. 
No  wonder,  that  an  Apostle,  in  taking  this  view  of 
his  position,  magnified  his  office,  and  was  ready  to 
move  on  to  prison  and  to  death,  that  he  "  might  finish 
his  course  with  joy  and  the  ministry-  that  he  had  re- 
ceived of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the 
grace  of  God."  And  surely,  when  we  contemplate 
the  ministerial  character  and  office,  as  sustaining  re- 
lations so  sacred  and  sublime,  we  should  try  and  lose 
sight  of  all  mijior  and  trivial  causes  of  despondency, 
and  faint-heartedness. 

.  Need  I  remind  you  also,  my  Brethren,  for  our  en- 
couragement, amidst  the  toils  and  sacrifices  of  our 
profession,  that  our  work  has  its  'pleasures  too — plea- 
sures that  the  world  can  neither  know  nor  appreciate ; 
I  mean  the  pleasure  "  of  saving  a  soul  from  death, 
and  of  hiding  a  multitude  of  sins."  Could  we  estimate 
the  value  of  the  soul — could  we  weigh  its  worth,  as  it 


23 

is  weighed  by  him  wlio  made  it — could  we  lift  the 
covering  which  God  in  mercy  has  thrown  over  the 
dark  world  of  woe,  and  penetrate  the  veil  which  shuts 
out  from  our  sight  the  glories  of  heaven, — then,  to  be 
instrumental  in  saving  one  such  soul,  would  bring  to 
our  hearts,  a  purer,  a  holier,  and  a  more  transcendant 
joy,  than  the  greatest  achievement  of  earth  and  time. 
It  was  a  joy  like  this  that  satisfied  the  Redeemer  for 
the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  made  him  willing  to  endure 
the  cross,  and  despise  the  shame.  And  is  it  too  much 
to  say  that  every  faithful  minister,  in  his  measure, 
participates  in  these  blessed  sympathies  of  the  Re- 
deemer? And  are  not  such  joys,  an  ample  indemni- 
fication for  all  the  difficulties,  and  self-sacrificing 
labours,  that  are  endured  in  Avinning  souls  to  Christ  ? 
To  preach  then,  so  that  those  who  hear  us  may  be- 
lieve, and  turn  to  the  Lord ;  to  preach  for  the  edifi- 
cation and  comfort  of  "  the  household  of  faith  ;"  to  be 
guides  and  counsellors  and  ensamples  to  our  respective 
Hocks ;  to  be  spiritual  fathers  in  Christ,  and  to  see 
and  hear  that  our  spiritual  children  are  walking  in 
the  truth,  can  there  be  any  employment  more  ex- 
alted, more  Christ-like,  and  soul-satisfying  ?  If  there 
be  a  delight  in  the  contemplation  of  doing  good — if 
the  thought  that  we  are  instrumental  in  making  others 
wise  and  holy  and  happy,  can  administer  the  purest 
pleasure  to  our  minds,  then,  such  is  the  pleasure  of 
the  faithful  minister,  who,  in  the  spirit  of  his  office, 
is  engaged  in  making  known  the  unsearchable  riches 
of  grace  and  salvation  and  glory,  to  those  who  are 
perishing  in  their  ignorance  and  sin ;  and  who  is 
spending  his  life  in  endeavouring  to  bring  all  around 


24 

him  to  seek  the  good  part  and  to  embrace  the  choicest 
gifts  of  heaven. 

We  must  not  fail  to  remark  in  this  connexion,  that 
the  general  assurance  of  success^  as  the  consequence  and 
the  reward  of  ministerial  fidelity^  seems  to  be  plainly 
implied  if  not  positively  asserted  ;  and  is  presented  as 
a  motive  of  encouragement  to  be  faithful  and  un- 
wearied in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  What  precise  mea- 
sure of  success  a  minister  shall  ha^^e,  or  how  many 
truly  converted  souls  he  shall  have,  as  the  seals  of  his 
ministry,  will  never  be  known  until  the  secrets  of  all 
hearts  shall  be  disclosed.  But  it  seems  quite  in  ac- 
cordance with  scripture  and  experience,  to  anticipate 
a  measure  of  success  in  some  degree  proportioned  to 
the  amount  of  prayerful  effort,  and  holy  diligence  and 
zeal  enlisted  in  this  good  work.  ■•'  Our  labours  shall 
not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord."  They  will  be  crowned 
with  a  blessing,  and  we  will  be  made  instrumental  in 
bringing  some  poor  souls  to  the  Saviour.  I  do  not 
say  that  all  truly  faithful  ministers  of  the  gospel  will 
be  equally  blessed  in  their  preaching,  aii}'  more  than 
I  would  say  that  the  same  minister  is  alike  successful 
at  all  times.  But  where  a  minister  of  Christ  dis- 
charges the  duties  of  his  office  in  the  spirit  of  his  high 
commission,  success,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  will 
be  the  result.  He  is,  indeed,  but  an  instrument  in 
dispensing  the  riches  of  divine  grace,  "  that  the  excel- 
lency of  the  power  may  be  of  God  ;"  and  yet  the  more 
earnestly  and  humbly  and  perseveringly,  he  applies 
himself  to  his  appropriate  duties,  the  larger  the  har- 
vest of  blessing  in  the  conversion  and  salvation  of 
souls,  that  will  be  reaped.  God's  word  will  not  re- 
turn void  and  fail  to  accomplish  the  thing,  whereto  it 


25 

is  sent — when  it  comes  from  glowing  lips,  with  all 
the  spirit-stirring  attributes  of  a  holy  and  enlightened 
zeal — enforced  by  the  example  of  an  upright  and 
prayerful  life.  The  truth  of  God  cannot  be  plainly 
and  affectionately  and  solemnly  declared  without 
taking  effect  and  producing  fruit  to  some  extent.  Sin- 
ners in  Zion  will  be  made  afraid,  fearfulness  will  sur- 
prise the  hypocrites,  the  impenitent  will  repent  and 
believe,  the  word  ot  the  Lord  will  have  free  course 
and  be  glorified,  and  there  will  be  added  to  the  church 
many  such  as  shall  be  saved. 

But  not  only  does  the  hope  and  the  evidence  of 
being  made  useful,  if  it  be  only  in  a  very  limited  de- 
gree, serve  as  a  rich  equivalent  for  the  various  and 
arduous  labours  of  "  this  ministry," — there  is  also  the 
promise  of  the  Master'' s  presence  to  his  servants, — and 
they  may  trust  in  him  for  grace  and  strength  equal  to 
their  day.  While  they  are  breaking  the  bread  of  life 
to  others,  he  will  not  leave  their  own  souls  unfed  and 
unnourished  by  the  communications  of  his  spirit.  He 
will  comfort  them  with  those  consolations  wherewith 
they  comfort  others.  He  will  be  near  them  in  every 
emergency  to  soften  their  fatigues,  to  sweeten  their 
trials  and  to  make  all  grace  abound  on  their  behalf,  so 
as  to  carry  them  cheerfully  through  scenes,  at  the 
prospect  of  which,  they  were  ready  to  tremble.  In 
tlieir  desponding  hours,  he  whispers  to  them,  "  Let 
not  your  hearts  be  troubled" — "my  grace  shall  be 
sufficient  for  you" — "  my  strength  shall  sustain  your 
weakness  ;"  and  "  1  will  never  leave  thee."  Surely  it 
is  a  matter  of  encouragement  for  his  ministers  to  call 
to  mind  that  while  he  l)ids  them,  "  Go  preach  the 
gospel/'  he  adds,  '•  Lo  I  am  with  you."     What  multi- 


26 

tudes  of  witnesses  to  the  truth  of  this  promise  could 
be  summoned  from  among  the  Kving  and  the  dead. 
And  are  we  not  my  brethren,  of  the  number  of  those 
who  can  say  that  having  obtained  help  from  him  in 
all  our  duties,  and  our  trials,  we  continue  even  to  this 
day,  and  are  ready  to  testify  of  his  power,  his  good- 
ness, his  faithfulness  ?  Let  us  then  gird  up  the  loins 
of  our  minds  for  more  assiduous  and  hopeful  exertions 
in  our  proper  and  covenanted  work,  yielding  neither 
to  sloth  nor  despondency,  but  awning  and  praying  to 
be  strong  in  the  grace  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus, 

And  now,  not  to  allude  to  any  other  considerations, 
Av^hich  should  serve  to  cheer  and  sustain  the  ministers 
of  Christ,  that  they  '•  faint  not" — we  must  not  forget, 
the  Recommence  of  Reward — to  which  they  are  encour- 
aged to  look  forward.  Moses,  that  faithful  minister 
of  the  typical  economy  had  respect  to  this.  He  grasped 
it  with  a  firm  and  steady  faith,  and  contemplating  it 
only  in  reversion,  he  renounced  in  exchange  for  it  all 
the  glories  and  grandeur  of  earthh^  greatness — an 
earthly  sceptre,  and  an  earthly  crown.  The  scrip- 
tures establish  the  principle,  and  urge  the  motive  of 
future  rewards  proportioned  to  the  good  we  may  be 
instrumental  in  accomplishing.  "  Those  that  are  wise 
shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament — and 
they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as  the  stars, 
for  ever  and  ever."  Here  then,  is  more  than  enough 
to  outweigh  all  our  sacrifices  and  sufferings  and  la- 
bours. "  Be  faithful  unto  death,"  says  our  divine 
Master,  ''  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life" — a 
crown  resplendent  Avith  the  unfading  beauties  of  im- 
mortality, when  the  transitory  glories  of  this  Avorld 
shall  have  withered  like  a  fading  flower,  and  all  the  pa- 


27 

geantry  of  human  greatness  shall  have  passed  away 
as  a  dream.     This  is  the  crown  that  awaits  all  who 
have  faithfully    discharged   "  this  ministry" — which 
the}^  have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus.     On  that  great 
day  when  he  shall  appear  in  his  glory,  to  reward 
ever}^  one  according  to  his  worlvs — he  will  not  be  un- 
unmindful  of  what  his  servants,  even  the  weakest  of 
them,  have  done  to  promote  his  cause.     As  the  Chief 
Shepherd    he  Avill  then  acknowledge    and    applaud 
them,  before   an  assembled   world.     He  will    sa}'   to 
each  of  them,  "Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant, 
enter  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord — because   thou   hast 
been  faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  thee 
Ruler  over  many  things."     And  then  with  his  own 
hand  will  be  confer  upon  them  the  crown  of  f/Iory — a 
crown  of  righteousness — a  crown  of  rejoicing — a  crown 
decked  with  the  souls  of  their  people,  whom  they  have 
converted  or  edified,  who  wall  then  appear  with  them 
as  their  jojj  and  their  crown,  in  the  presence  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  at  his  coming.     And  0  !  Avith  what 
exstacy,  will  they  receive  that  crown,  thus  conferred, 
and  Avith  what  high   and  everlasting  exultation  will 
they  wear  it !     Yes,  m}^  Brethren,  the  smile   and  the 
approbation   of  the   blessed   Jesus,    on   that    august 
occasion,    will  overpay   all   the    labours,    and   trials 
of  the    longest  life,    and    the   most   protracted    and 
self-denying  service.     Therefore,    "  let  us  be  stead- 
fast— immoveable,  and  always  abounding  in  the  work 
of  the  Lord — forasmuch  as  we  know  that  our  labour 
shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 

And  now,  Fathers  and  Brethren,  in  view  of  the 
great  and  sacred  importance  of  the  ministry  we  have 
received,  let  us  bear  in  mind  the  obligations,  which 


28 

its  various  and  solemn  trusts  impose  upon  us  to  be 
found  diligently  and  faithfully  discharging  all  its  du- 
ties, to  the  utmost  of  our  ability. 

Let  us  take  heed  to  our  ministry,  that  we  do  not 
lose  sight  of  its  great  object.  And  what  is  that  object? 
Ts  it  not,  to  win  souls  to  the  best  of  masters  f  It  is  for 
this  purpose,  that  every  faithful  minister  should  live 
and  labour.  And  we  are  under  peculiar  obligations 
to  do  this,  not  only,  as  we  hope,  that  we  have  expe- 
rienced the  forgiving  grace  of  God  ourselves,  but  in 
virtue  of  our  office.  When  we  were  clothed  with  the 
ministerial  character,  and  undertook  the  pastoral 
charge,  we  solemnly  recorded  our  vow^s  before  God, 
that  we  w^ould  with  all  fidelity  and  zeal  engage  in 
this  good  work.  These  vows  of  God  are  upon  us. 
Let  us  then,  beware,  that  we  do  not  deal  deceitfully 
with  God,  and  bring  upon  ourselves  the  charge  of 
unfaithfulness  to  the  souls  committed  to  our  trust. 
However  we  may  regard  it,  our  divine  Lord  and 
Master,  considers  it  as  the  greatest  favour  and  honour, 
he  could  confer  on  us,  to  commit  the  interests  of  his 
cause  to  our  hands,  and  consign  to  our  care,  those 
souls  he  died  to  save.  Can  any  of  us  endure  the 
thought  of  beti^aying  that  cause  ?  When  he  will  ask 
of  us  an  account  of  our  stewardship,  which  of  us  will 
not  then  wish  to  be  found  faithful  ?  Will  any  of  us 
then  regret,  that  we  have  given  ourselves  wholly  and 
unreservedly  to  his  service,  and  that  we  had  spent  so 
•little  of  our  time,  in  the  pursuit  of  secular  ends,  and 
the  studies  of  a  fashionable  and  captivating  literature 
or  the  blandishments  of  social  and  polislu  d  life  ?  Oh 
no ;  in  that  da}^,  when  the  destinies  of  the  soul  and 
the  glories   of  redemption,  shall  have     he  light  of 


29 

eternity  poured  upon  them — then,  to  have  been  an 
instrument,  however  feeble,  of  helping  one  poor  sinner 
in  fleeing  from  the  Avrath  to  come,  will  infinitely  out- 
weigh, in  our  estimation,  every  other  achievement, 
however  honourable  and  splendid  it  may  have  stood 
forth  to  the  gaze  of  mortals,  on  the  theatre  of  time. 
The  gospel  which  we  preach,  is  indeed,  the  power 
of  God — it  is  mighty  to  the  pulling  down  of  the  strong 
holds  of  sin,  in  the  hearts  of  men ;  and  there  are 
elements  of  potential  influence  in  our  ministr}-  to 
bless  and  to  save  the  world.  Only  let  it  be  with  us 
our  first  object  to  exercise  this  ministry  for  the  glory 
of  God,  in  the  salvation  of  sinners.  I  need  not  tell 
you,  how  much  it  would  detract  from  our  usefulness, 
if  we  should  connect  other  things  with  this,  as  fa- 
vourite objects  of  pursuit.  If  for  example  we  cherish 
an  ambition  for  a  name,  or  a  taste  for  the  literature 
of  the  world,  or'  a  fondness  for  wealth.  But  having 
chosen  our  object,  to  preach  Christ ;  an  object  in  point 
of  excellence  with  which,  the  world  has  nothing  to 
compare — let  us  make  full  proof  of  it.  Let  it  command 
our  time,  and  our  talents.  Let  us  devote  to  it  our 
first  thoughts,  our  warmest  affections,  our  best  labours. 
r^t  us  remember,  that  it  is  the  command  of  scripture 
in  reference  to  the  duties  of  this  ministry,  "  Give  thy- 
self wholly  to  them."  Is  it  not  reasonable  then,  to 
believe  that  a  more  entire  consecration  of  themselves 
to  the  work,  and  a  more  thorough  imbuing  of  their 
souls  with  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  Jesus  would  greatly 
augment  the  usefulness  and  power  of  the  ministers  of 
the  Gospel  ?  A  man  who  enters  it  with  undivided 
aim — seeking  to  serve  God  in  the  Gospel  of  His  Son, 
wiU  be  happy.     He  will  find  it,  his  meat  and  drink  ; 


30 

and  in  proportion  as  he  loves  his  work,  we  feel  per- 
suaded that  his  preaching  will  be  with  jyower — "  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven." 
The  powers  of  this  world  cannot  vie  with  the  effi- 
ciency of  those  weapons,  which  are  wielded  by  the 
ministers  of  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God.  Behold 
the  Monk  of  Wittemberg  shaking  the  papal  authority 
to  its  centre.  And  at  a  later  day,  see  Wesley  soaring 
above  the  most  dignified  religious  establishment  in 
any  land ;  and  from  such  examp*^es,  learn  the  power 
of  the  devoted  Gospel  minister,  who,  without  titles 
and  rank  and  riches,  can,  and  does  put  forth  an  influ- 
ence to  change  the  face  of  society,  and  to  renovate  the 
world. 

Do  we  then  desire,  my  Brethren,  as  I  trust  we  all 
do,  to  be  more  exclusively  devoted  to  our  Great 
Mission  ?  Is  it  our  ambition  and  our  hope  to  be 
made  the  honoured  instruments  of  success,  in  our 
high  vocation  ?  the  way  to  it  is  plain.  It  is,  to 
humhle  ourselves  before  Qod  for  past  neglect ;  and  to 
pray  more  imjwrtunateli/  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

That  we  have  great  reason  to  deeply  abase  our- 
selves, upon  every  review  we  take  of  our  ministerial 
course,  I  doubt  not  that  you  all  feel  and  are  ready  to 
acknowledge.  Many  of  us,  I  do  not  question,  have 
so  laboured  and  preached,  as  to  commend  our  message 
to  the  consciences  of  our  hearers.  We  have  by  all 
the  blessed  and  touching  considerations  of  divine  truth, 
sought  to  awaken  them  from  the  slumbers  and  the 
danger  of  an  impenitent  state ;  we  have  set  before 
them  life  and  death,  and  have  urged  their  return  to 
God.  Some  of  us  may  not  have  been  wholly  wanting 
in  those  duties  which  have  led  us  to  converse  and  to 


31 

pray  with  them  in  private,  and  at  their  own  homes. 
And  if  in  these  respects  we  have  approved  ourselves 
in  any  degree  faithful,  it  must  l^e  a  source  of  comfort 
to  our  minds.  But  alas !  how  unfrcquently  and 
unsteadily  have  we  performed  these  duties  !  Is  it  not 
painful  to  reflect,  that  some  of  our  people,  and  with 
whom  too,  we  conversed  almost  daily,  may  have  per- 
ished through  our  neglect, — our  indifierence  to  their 
spiritual  welfare — our  unfaithfulness  and  backward- 
ness in  not  warning  them,  and  praying  with  them. 
Surely,  we  have  need,  my  brethren,  to  pray  that  we 
may  be  humbled  under  a  review  of  our  official  delin- 
quencies, and  instead  of  suffering  ourselves  to  be 
elated  by  any  of  our  performances,  to  seek  that  they 
may  be  more  and  more  baptized  with  the  "  Baptism 
of  repentance,"  and  the  blood  and  righteousness  of 
our  living  and  gracious  Redeemer. 

Let  us  then  labour  to  gird  ourselves  with  new  deci- 
sion and  fresh  enterprise  for  the  duties  of  this  minis- 
try. Let  us  not  feel  satisfied  and  happy,  unless  we 
have  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  work  of  the  Lord 
is  prospering  in  our  hands,  and  that  his  vford  is  glo- 
rified and  has  free  course  among  the  people  of  our 
several  congregations.  Far  be  it  from  us,  to  lay  it  as 
an  "  unction  to  our  souls,"  that  because  God  is  a 
sovereign,  in  the  dispensations  of  his  mercy,  and  that 
he  alone  can  give  the  increase  to  the  ministrations  of 
his  servants,  that,  on  that  account,  we  should  not  feel 
anxious  as  to  the  result  of  our  labours,  or  whether 
they  were  accompanied  with  any  remarkable  and 
cheering  success.  Let  us  preach  and  pray,  as  if  the 
salvation  of  sinners  depended  on  the  fidelity  and 
earnestness,  with  which  we  presented  the  claims  of 


32 

the  gospel  message,  and  besought  sinners  to  be  recon- 
ciled to  God.  Above  all,  we  should  feel  it  incumbent 
upon  us,  especially  in  times  so  full  of  important  oc- 
currences, and  so  pregnant  with  great  events,  as  the 
age  of  the  world  in  which  we  live,  to  abound  in  prayer. 
(rod  has  constituted  ministers  of  the  gospel,  the  official 
intercessors  of  his  church.  The  Lord  Jesus,  has  thus 
clothed  them  with  the  similitude  of  his  own  character. 
A-li  those  ministers  of  the  gospel,  who  have  been  dis- 
tinguished for  successful  labours,  have  been  men 
abounding  in  prayer ;  not  merely  remarkable  for  the 
fervour  and  the  efficacy  of  their  public  addresses  to 
the  throne  of  grace ;  but  also,  for  their  regular  and 
habitual  private  intercessions  with  God  for  a  blessing 
on  their  labours,  to  further  the  salvation  of  men. 
Such  believing  and  wrestling  prayer,  while  it 
will  in  no  wise  retard  us  in  our  studies,  but  rather 
contribute  to  our  own  enrichment  in  the  mysteries  of 
the  gosj^el — will,  we  are  assured,  turn  out  to  the 
advantage  of  the  souls  for  which  we  watch.  Let  us 
then  cultivate  the  spirit  of  prayer — and  as  we  are 
engaged  in  a  work — which  God  alone  can  crown 
with  a  blessing — let  us  give  him  no  rest,  "  until  he 
establish — until  he  make  Jerusalem  a  praise  in  the 
earth.''  Let  our  daily  and  fervent  prayer  be — 
^'  arise  0  Lord,  and  plead  thy  own  cause — 0  Lord 
re\ive  thy  work — in  the  midst  of  the  years  make 
known — in  wrath  remember  mercy." 

My  beloved  Brethren  in  the  Lord,  our  yearly  con- 
vocations are  generally  occasions  full  of  interest  to  us, 
as  they  affi)rd  us  the  opportunity  of  friendly  greeting, 
and  furnish  us  with  seasons  of  Christian  intercourse 
and  mutual  counsel  and  united  prayer  for  the  pros- 


83,^ 

perlty  of  Zion.  And  sometimes  they  are  so  associated 
with  events  of  mournful  and  tender  interest,  as  to 
bring  up  a  crowd  of  impressive  and  not  unprofitable 
recollections  before  our  minds.  We  can  never  come 
together  without  missing  some  faces,  with  which  we 
have  long  been  familiar.  If  in  our  inward  thought 
we  ask,  where  are  they  ?  we  at  once  receive  the  an- 
swer, in  those  interrogations,  so  full  of  solemn  mean- 
ing— "  The  Fathers,  where  are  they  ?  and  the  Proph- 
ets, do  they  live  forever  ?"  Yes  ;  ministers  are  dying 
men.  Every  year,  it  is  said  of  this,  and  that  minis- 
ter, that  his  course  is  finished — his  pastorate,  at  an 
end — and  his  flock,  without  a  shepherd,  or  fed  by  a 
successor,  who  enters  into  his  labours.  We  feel  it  to 
be  the  dictate  of  brotherly  affection,  to  record  with 
Christian  hope  and  resignation  their  departure,  and 
to  pause  that  we  might  hearken  to  the  wholesome 
admonition,  "  Be  ye  ready,  also." 

Since  we  were  last  convened  as  a  Synod,  it  has 
pleased  our  heavenly  Father,  to  remove  from  us,  one 
of  our  number,  venerable  in  age,  and  distinguished  in 
station,  and  in  usefulness.  He  was,  indeed,  a  great 
man  in  our  Israel.  The  most  of  us  belonging  to  this 
Synod,  were  his  pupils,  and  the  very  mention  of  his 
name  awakens  in  our  hearts  emotions  peculiarly 
pleasing  and  tender.  When  we  hear  the  name  of 
Samuel  Miller,  we  think  of  him  as  a  venerable 
Father — a  beloved  and  honoured  Instructor — the  able 
and  distinguished  Advocate  of  the  ecclesiastical  polity 
and  order  of  our  church— and  the  Friend  and  the 
Patron  of  all  its  benevolent  and  religious  institutions  ; 
a  man,  who  put  forth  a  more  than  ordinary  influence 
on  his  generation,  by  his  writings— his  position,  and 


34 

hie  various  labours, — and  has  left  the  impress  of  his 
character,  his  talents,  and  his  long  and  useful  life, 
on  the  church  and  the  world.  Where  is  the  man  in 
our  church,  who  held  a  higher  place  in  the  affections 
and  esteem  of  those  who  knew  him,  and  whose  death 
was  more  sincerely,  and  extensively  mourned  ? 

The  Intellectual  character  of  our  venerable  Father 
was  of  a  high  order.  The  faculties  of  his  mind  were 
originally  vigorous  and  active,  and  were  highly  im- 
proved by  well  directed  and  persevering  study.  There 
were  few  men  of  his  day,  whose  acquisitions  were 
more  extensive  or  more  solid.  On  all  subjects  to 
which  he  turned  his  attention,  he  formed  clear  and 
comprehensive  views.  His  writings  exhibit  the  rich- 
es of  his  mind  in  a  smooth,  flowing,  perspicuous  and 
natural  diction,  and  no|:  unfrequently  rising  to  the 
elegant  and  ornate.  On  all  questions  of  controversy, 
no  man  was  more  candid  in  his  manner  of  reasoning. 
His  opinions,  after  being  formed  with  much  scriptural 
and  cautious  examination,  were  maintained  with 
manly  decision  and  cogent  argument.  His  preaching 
was  always  instructive,  and  often,  in  late  years,  deeply 
impressive  and  serious.  In  all  his  productions  for 
the  press,  especially  in  his  controversial  writings,  he 
was  remarkable  for  patience  and  fairness  in  his  in- 
vestigations,  for  clear  and  foi'cible  reasoning,  and  for 
correct  statement  and  unusual  despatch. 

But  when  we  turn  our  eyes  to  his  Social  and  Reli- 
gious character,  we  are  struck  with  its  completeness 
and  symmetry.  He  not  only  had  the  various  quali- 
ties of  excellence,  but  he  had  them  in  just  proportion, 
and  beautiful  consistency.  It  is  not  unfrequently  the 
case,  that  we  often  find  a  character  of  many  virtues, 


85 

marred  by  prominent  faults.  Some  who  possess  a 
variety  of  estimable  qualities,  are  irritable,  self-compla- 
cent and  vain.  They  are  wanting  m  meekness,  of  a 
suspicious  temper,  and  subject  to  rashness,  fickleness, 
or  indiscretion.  But  all  who  knew  Doctor  Miller, 
could  not  fail  to  perceive  the  gentleness  and  urbanity 
of  his  manners,  his  tenderness  of  the  feelings  of  others, 
his  Christian  simplicity,  his  composure  and  self-pos- 
session in  seasons  of  exciting  debate,  and  his  resolu- 
tion and  firmness  and  principle  when  duty  called  him 
to  act. 

These  attributes  of  character  made  him  admired 
and  beloved  by  all  around  him,  and  greatly  contri- 
buted to  render  him  useful  and  respected  in  the  high 
and  important  station  he  occupied  so  many  years. 
Now,  when  we  reflect  upon  it,  we  cannot  but  regard 
it  as  very  important,  that  a  character  of  such  com- 
pleteness was  exemplified  before  so  many  hundred 
young  men  while  they  were  training  for  the  gospel 
ministry,  and  that  in  so  many  ways  it  was  brought 
to  bear  upon  the  interests  of  our  Seminary,  and  the 
interests  of  the  Church. 

But  how  our  admiration  increases  as  we  contem- 
plate his  growing  meetness  for  heaven,  under  the 
infirmities  of  declining  age.  Such  was  his  spiritual- 
mindedness,  and  so  entirely  did  he  consider  himself 
as  having  done  with  earth,  that  for  months  his  de- 
parture was  the  pleasing  topic  of  his  daily  conversa- 
tion. So  firm  and  peaceful  was  his  reliance  on  the 
righteousness  of  the  Redeemer,  that  death  was  di- 
vested of  all  its  terror,  and  he  spoke  of  it  as  going 
home  to  his  father's  house  to  be  at  rest  forever.  As 
he  verged   towards  the  closing  scene,  his   sky  waa 


36 

serene  and  cloudless.  With  faltering  and  dying  lips, 
he  testified  to  the  supporting  presence  of  the  Master, 
and  calmly  said,  "  not  a  doubt,"  as  he  breathed  out 
his  life.  But  I  will  not  dwell  here.  You  all  know  with 
what  patriarchal  faith  and  dignity  he  went  down  to 
the  grave,  and  with  what  blessed  hope  he  committed 
his  soul  to  his  covenant  and  redeeming  God  and  Sa- 
viour. 

While  living,  we  all  accorded  to  him  many  distin- 
guished excellencies ;  but  since  Ms  departure,  we  feel 
more  than  ever,  that  he  was  no  ordinary  man ;  and 
that  his  gifts  and  graces  will  long  embalm  his  name, 
in  the  sweet  and  pious  recollections  of  our  Church — 
a  Church,  to  which  he  devoted  the  unabated  attach- 
ment and  energies  of  a  long  life,  and  with  the  history 
of  which,  his  life  and  labours  are  so  closely  identified, 
that  the  former  cannot  be  written,  without  portraying 
the  conspicuous  and  important  part  that  was  borne 
by  the  latter.  The  memory  and  the  usefulness  of 
such  a  man,  will  long  survive.  They  cannot  be  for- 
gotten and  pass  away  with  the  transient  eulogies  of 
the  funeral  service,  and  the  weekly  journal.  They 
are  the  legacy  of  the  Church,  and  the  Church  will 
value  and  record  them. 

Reverend  Fathers  and  Brethren,  what  impressive 
recollections  crowd  upon  the  minds  of  the  older  mem- 
bers of  this  body,  at  its  returning  sessions.  Especially 
does  the  speaker  go  back  in  memory  to  the  time, 
when  he  first  had  a  seat  on  this  floor.  The  lapse  of 
another  year  will  complete  the  third  of  a  century 
since  his  name  was  enrolled  as  a  member  of  the  Synod 
of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  of  which  this  Synod 
was   a  constituent  part.      Comparatively,  how  few 


a? 

before  me,  were  tlien  members  of  this  body.  The 
names  of  only  nine  of  the  Synod  of  eighteen  hundred 
and  eighteen,  find  a  place  on  the  roll  of  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  The  worthy  and  venerable  men,  who 
at  that  time  were  most  active  in  managing  the  con- 
cerns, and  sustaining  the  interests  of  our  Synodical 
Jurisdiction,  have  nearly  all  passed  away.  A  few, 
only  "  remain  until  this  present,  while  the  rest  have 
fallen  asleep."  Many  faces,  then  seen  at  our  annual 
gatherings,  so  familiar  to  a  few  of  us,  only,  have  long 
since  been  shrouded  in  the  darkness  of  the  tomb. 
How  aflfecting  the  changes  which  two  and  thirty 
years  have  made  in  our  body !  How  entirely  certain 
that  these  changes  will  be  as  many,  as  striking,  and 
to  all  of  us  more  deeply  momentous,  in  the  two  and 
thirty  years  to  come.  God  grant,  my  Brethren,  in 
this  high  and  holy  ministry,  when  each  of  us  shall  hear 
the  Master  sounding  the  retreat  from  our  several 
fields  of  action,  it  may  then  appear,  that  we  have  not 
run  in  vain,  nor  laboured  in  vain. 


ICI 


s^ 


